Or, as we so often say during the Christmas holidays: "the reason for the season"!
Throughout the years, many have served our country; many have lost their lives ... so we could enjoy the freedoms we have today.
Freedoms that, at times, some may carry to extremes - yet, freedoms just the same. Freedoms that allow us to gather and celebrate; and freedoms that allow us to gather and protest or bring to light issues we feel strongly about.
BUT...
Let us remember; let us not forget ... the lives lost in order for us to have these freedoms. And, we also remember those who have proudly served our country, whether in war time or not...
Let us remember; let us not forget...
And, let us remember the God who gave us the freedom of choice; to choose Him or not...we are free because of the sacrifice He gave - His only Son who died for our sins.
On Sunday, July 5th, we shared a hymn that may not be very well known. It speaks of the freedome and peace that we pray for everyday; I wish to share it with you today:
"This Is My Song"
This is my song,
O God of all the nations,
a song of peace
for lands afar and mine.
This is my home,
the country where my heart is;
here are my hopes,
my dreams, my holy shrine;
but other hearts
in other lands are beating
with hopes and dreams
as true and high as mine.
My country's skies
are bluer than the ocean,
and sunlight beams
on cloverleaf and pine;
but other lands
have sunlight too,
and clover,
and skies are everywhere
as blue as mine.
O hear my song,
thou God of all the nations,
a song of peace
for their land and for mine.
This is my prayer,
O Ruler of all nations:
let thy reign come;
on earch thy will be done.
In peace may all earth's people
draw together,
and hearts united
learn to live as one.
O hear my prayer,
thou God of all the nations;
myself I give thee:
let thy will be done.
(printed in the Chalice Hymnal)
One Nation under God...
Thank you God for this nation; for all those who have lost their lives for the freedoms we all enjoy; and for those who proudly serve or have served.
May we learn to live, as one nation...under God!
Please also remember my brother paramilitary contractors, who gave pledged their arms for pay, and their hearts to a cause.
ReplyDeleteA.E. Housman said it well -
These, in the day that Heaven was falling,
the hour when earth's foundations fled
followed their mercenary calling
and took their wages, and are dead.
Their shoulders held the sky suspended,
they stood, and earth's foundations stay.
What God abandoned, these defended
and saved the sum of things for pay.
I am proud to have been among this special band of brothers, and I carry the dead in my heart, in trust.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2015/07/your-dying-spouse-26-morale.html
Oh yes, Andrew! We must remember ALL who gave their lives in whatever capacity they held during these times of war. Thank you for sharing the piece by A. E. Housman!
DeleteAnd thank you for taking the time to read and comment...blessings, my friend!